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Music: Benjamin Britten. Lyrics:Ronald Duncan after André Obeys Le viol de Lucrèce with others.
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First performance: Glyndebourne 12 juli 1946.
| Role | Voicetype |
|---|---|
| Bianca | mezzosoprano |
| Collatinus | bass |
| Female Chorus | soprano |
| Junius | baritone |
| Lucia | soprano |
| Lucretia | mezzosoprano |
| Male Chorus | tenor |
| Tarquinius | baritone |
The male and female Choruses tell of Tarquinius Superbus´s sacking of Rome and of how his warrior son, Sextus, has come to treat the city as his own. The curtain rises on an army camp where Collatinus, Junius och Tarquinius are arguing about a wager that took place the night before, which proved Lucretia - the wife of Collatinus - the only virtious wife. Tarquinius determines to "prove Lucretia chaste" and he leaves for Rome. In her house Lucretia is seen sewing with her two servants Bianca and Lucia, when Tarquinius arrives and demands a room for the night.
Lucretia is asleep on her bed. Tarquinius approaches and kisses her. In her dreams she believes him to be her husband and draws him closer. When she wakes she tries to repel him but Tarquinius draws his sword and rapes her. In the morning Bianca and Lucia are arranging flowers. When Lucretia appears she gives Lucia an orchid to take to Collatinus "from a Roman harlot". As Lucia leaves Collatinus arrives and finds Lucretia in purple mourning. She tells Collatinus what has happened, but though he forgives her she stabs herself. The opera concludes with the moral that "Christ is all".
Adress:http://www.mogensoperasidor.se/rapeoflucretiaenglish.htm